5. Curb domestic surveillance

5. Curb domestic surveillance

Getty-AFP photo by Paul J. Richards

Scale back amendments passed earlier this year to the federal law that governs the surveillance of foreign agents, and which provided retroactive immunity from lawsuits to the nation's largest telecom companies. Obama supported the amendments, but also opposed granting immunity. The bill did not receive the level of scrutiny it deserved, said Tim Jones of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Until now, however, it is likely Obama has not known the extent to which the surveillance program has provided valuable information. Above, President George W. Bush speaks at the National Security Agency ahead of 2006 Senate hearings on domestic surveillance.

Scale back amendments passed earlier this year to the federal law that governs the surveillance of foreign agents, and which provided retroactive immunity from lawsuits to the nation's largest telecom companies. Obama supported the amendments, but also opposed granting immunity. The bill did not receive the level of scrutiny it deserved, said Tim Jones of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Until now, however, it is likely Obama has not known the extent to which the surveillance program has provided valuable information. Above, President George W. Bush speaks at the National Security Agency ahead of 2006 Senate hearings on domestic surveillance. (Getty-AFP photo by Paul J. Richards)

Scale back amendments passed earlier this year to the federal law that governs the surveillance of foreign agents, and which provided retroactive immunity from lawsuits to the nation's largest telecom companies. Obama supported the amendments, but also opposed granting immunity. The bill did not receive the level of scrutiny it deserved, said Tim Jones of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Until now, however, it is likely Obama has not known the extent to which the surveillance program has provided valuable information. Above, President George W. Bush speaks at the National Security Agency ahead of 2006 Senate hearings on domestic surveillance.